Compare towns
Castle Hill vs Danforth vs Orient vs Ashland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castle Hill has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Danforth has the most affordable homes ($90k median).
Orient has the most people working from home (81%).
Ashland has the most renters (33.9% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castle Hill | Danforth | Orient | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 281 |
666 |
137Lowest |
1,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -0.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
— | -7.7%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 57.8±15.8 29% above ME |
53.1±4.4Lowest 19% above ME |
62±9Highest 38% above ME |
53.4±9.1 19% above ME |
| Orient and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±5.8 ME: 18.1% |
13.4%±4.3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
16.8%±18.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
| Orient and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 44.8%±6.5 ME: 22.4% |
26.1%±3.7Lowest ME: 22.4% |
46%±10.2Highest ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8 ME: 22.4% |
| Orient and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.7%Highest ME: 36.2% |
9%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
25% ME: 36.2% |
13.8% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±5.3 ME: 5.8% |
1.7%±2 ME: 5.8% |
0%±11.4Lowest ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,250±$14kHighest 27% below ME |
$48,125±$8k 36% below ME |
— | $46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
| Castle Hill and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $145,300±$18k 51% below ME |
$89,900±$36kLowest 70% below ME |
$548,600±$183kHighest 85% above ME |
$125,000±$49k 58% below ME |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $950±$574Highest 17% below ME |
$629±$29Lowest 45% below ME |
— | — |
| Castle Hill and Danforth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,449 52% below ME |
$1,270Lowest 58% below ME |
— | $1,511Highest 50% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 75%±100 ME: 48.4% |
36.1%±57.5 ME: 48.4% |
100%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
| Orient and Castle Hill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.3%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.9% ME: 10.7% |
35.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
23.6% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest ME: 74.3% |
81.6% ME: 74.3% |
93.7% ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 5 yrs newer than ME |
1987Highest 10 yrs newer than ME |
1986 9 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 24% below ME |
28 minHighest 15% above ME |
— | 21 min 14% below ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±9.8 ME: 15.9% |
5.8%±3.4 ME: 15.9% |
81%±44Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.